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D70 I like knocking out a quick description of the day so I can look back on it in future.

San Diego Zoo was pretty nice but I struggled on the photography with the unfamiliar cages and animals. Anyway here's a couple shots from Seaworld, the zoo and our arrival at Universal Studios for thankfully our last pre-booked theme park. Very soon we'll be on more familiar ground touring natural wonders.

Where should I be dining if I want a change of cuisine from greasy junk food (everywhere offers burgers and chips)? Is the answer whatever locally owned Itallian or Chinese store I'm going past?

Where should I be dining if I want a change of cuisine from greasy junk food (everywhere offers burgers and chips)?

You are going to struggle with that one. When you are in SF go to Brandy Hos on Columbus for some nice Hunan Chinese or one of the Italian restuarants on Grant or better yet North Beach Pizza my favourite pizza shop in the world (also have real Italian food).

There are several places along the coast that are pretty good. Pricey, is relative. In San Simeon the better places are attached to hotels. San Simeon's economy is 90% based on Hearst Castle, so keep that in mind. Up the coast there are some classics like Nepenthe (Big Sur) and Rocky Point Restaurant just North of Big Sur.

Monterey offers several good restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf (usually Italian cuisine). We frequent Old Fisherman's Grotto and Crabby Jims, but most of the places are very good. In Carmel, The Hogs Breath is famous for it's past ownership (Clint Eastwood), and The Mission Ranch (also Mr. Eastwood) is one of our favorite places. Clint was mayor of Carmel a while back.

Unfortunately, it appears that you are making a bee-line to San Francisco, which of course has some world class eateries. Maybe Lucas (The Wengler) can enlighten you, since he lives in Brisbane (ours, not yours... just south of San Francisco). Unfortunately one of our favorites, The Fisherman, in Burlingame, burned down several years ago, and most of the places we go to on The Peninsula (Belmont San Carlos, and San Mateo) are off of El Camino Real and a bit out of the way.

Lemme know if you need any more info.

P.S. Too bad that you didn't try some of the Mexican places down in San Diego. There are also some good ones as you head North as well. Check on-line as you go.

We skipped out of LA earlier than planned which leaves me able to slow down now. We have 2.5 days to get to San Fran via Big Sur from where we are tonight in Carpinteria.

Thanks for the eatery advice.

I'd have liked to try Mexican while in the south but my kids haven't developed a spice loving palette yet. I guess I was also pretty intimidated by driving on the wrong side of the road and worn out from the theme parks so I was focused on easy and grief free meals.

We managed a locally owned organic vegetarian pasta place tonight which was pleasant if a bit pricier than I prefer. At least it was grease free.